Man faces arson charges after fight

A Mount Olive man arrested for domestic violence Thursday after a fight with his girlfriend, now faces an additional charge in the case.

Joseph Irving Powell Jr., 33, of Thunder Swamp Road, was originally charged with assault on a female Thursday. Later that day, Wayne County sheriff's deputies charged Powell with first-degree arson.

The charge stems from allegations that Powell set his mobile home on fire during the fight with his girlfriend, 30-year Lisa Joy Hood.

The fire resulted in more than $30,000 in damages.

A tearful Hood told deputies she was watching television in her bedroom when Powell walked into the bedroom. Powell allegedly said, "What are you going to do about this," and left the mobile home, according to the sheriff's report.

Hood spotted a paper tablet burning on the living room floor, so she put the fire out. Powell returned home and allegedly set the paper tablet on fire again. A physical altercation ensued, but Hood managed to extinguish the fire a second time, according to the sheriff's report.

Hood told deputies she packed her belongings and Powell allegedly started the fire in the double-wide mobile home a third time. Powell, a farmer, allegedly jumped into his tractor and left the area.

Hood called 9-1-1 and units from the Smith Chapel, Mount Olive and Dudley volunteer fire departments were dispatched to the scene to extinguish the fire, according to sheriff's report.

Deputies tracked Powell down and served him with a domestic violence assault on a female warrant, according to the report. Powell was being held at the Wayne County Jail without bond.